Says province faces ‘serious and imminent threat’ from terrorist groups and hostile agencies
Police officers guard a street where shipping containers have been used to block the road leading towards the Red Zone and parliament building, in Islamabad on April 3, 2022. Photo: Reuters
LAHORE:
The Punjab government imposed Section 144 across the province for 10 days on Tuesday, banning gatherings of five or more people amid what it called a “serious and imminent threat” to public peace and the safety of life and property.
The decision came a day after Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) long march reached Kohat. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi is leading the convoy, which began its march towards Islamabad on Sunday to demand the release of party founder Imran Khan and press the government over what PTI describes as broader political and constitutional grievances. The convoy is currently in Kohat after travelling through Lakki Marwat and Karak, and is expected to depart for Peshawar later today as the party continues its phased mobilisation towards the federal capital.
According to the notification, the restrictions were imposed under Section 144(6) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898, through an order issued by the Punjab Home Department.
The order said, “Credible reports from LEAs and IAs indicate a serious and imminent threat to public peace, tranquillity, and the safety of life & property across the province of Punjab by militant/terrorist organisations and Hostile Intelligence Agencies (HIAs).”
It said multiple threat alerts had been received about possible terrorist activities involving suicide bombers, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) and target killings during large public gatherings across Punjab.
Such attacks could be used “to create mayhem, social unrest and disrupt public peace & tranquillity”, the order said.
It said assemblies, rallies, gatherings, sit-ins, processions, demonstrations and jalsas could present “potential targets for such terrorist attacks”, adding that the possibility of an act of terrorism during such activities could not be ruled out.
The order also said there was a “strong apprehension” that certain elements could organise activities, gatherings or demonstrations that might lead to assemblies of people and provide “easy targets for any hostile activity”.
“Such an incident could be a breach of public peace, disturbance of the public order, a security risk for the general public and could result in loss of life, property and critical infrastructure,” it said.
The inspector general of Punjab police, counter-terrorism department, special branch and several divisional and district administrations had requested “immediate preventive measures” to address potential terrorism and hostile activities, the order said.
Under the restrictions, a complete ban was imposed on assemblies, processions and gatherings of five or more people in any public place, street, road, highway, motorway or open space.
Read: CM Afridi urges PTI workers to join long march as convoy enters Kohat
The ban did not apply to marriage ceremonies, funeral prayers, burial gatherings or prayers in mosques, churches and other places of worship.
Official duties of government and semi-government organisations, courts and other events duly permitted by the relevant deputy commissioner were also exempted. The order also prohibited inciting people to participate in unlawful assemblies.
A separate ban was imposed on the carrying, display or brandishing of all kinds of weapons in public places. Personnel of law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies performing official duties were exempted.
The order said the restrictions would remain in force for 10 days from October 6 unless they were modified or withdrawn earlier.
The Punjab government said the measures were intended to enable authorities to “effectively maintain law & order throughout the province”.
The Punjab government had last imposed Section 144 across the province on September 23 for 13 days, until October 5, banning gatherings of five or more people amid security threats. At the time, the provincial government had also sought Pakistan Rangers’ deployment in Rawalpindi, Attock, Jhelum and Mianwali and requested the federal government to downgrade mobile and internet services at selected locations in Rawalpindi and Attock for law and order purposes.
